Garment hanger and dryer



R. F. RAwLlNs GARMENT HANGER AND DRYER Oct. 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 13, 1963 IIIIIIIIIIIIIr n I I I I IIII IIIIIIIQIIIIIIIIIIIIIH" "Il IU l FIG VIIIIII IIIIIII I I I I I l l I II f, .4I III El? l I-, -dunmwnwwwwww WNWMIUWWMMWK FIG-I FIG-2 INVENTOR F. RAWLINS 33 ROSEMARY 32 MAHONEY, MILLER SRAMBO M. y M

ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1966 R, F. RAwLlNS 3,280,477

GARMENT HANGER AND DRYER Filed May 13, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I\ 74 {40 I 42 /l 36ROSEMARY Fmg/wm@ 35 I3 42 27 i 32 \"& BY

m MAHONEYMILLER aRAMBo f '30 36 u ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,289,477 Patented Oct. 25, 1956 3,280,477 GARMENT HANGER AND DRYER Rosemary F. Rawlins, 156 Thurman Ave., Columbus, Ohio Filed May 13, 1963, Ser. No. 279,922 4 Claims. (Cl. 34-151) My invention relates to a garment hanger and dryer. It has to do, more particularly, with a unit which is pap ticularly useful for receiving and supporting garments which have been washed and which need to be hung until they drip dry.

My invention provides a simple, inexpensive device which may be hung from a suitable support and which is adapted to receive drip-dry garments when wet so that they can be hung therein until they drip dry. The device can be positioned in clothes closets, etc. and will be pleasing in appearance so as to avoid the unsightly practice of hanging garments where they are visible during the dripdry period. Also, during this period it is necessary to provide some means, such as towels on the floor, for absorbing the dripping water. The device is particularly useful in apartments, dormitories, or the like which are not provided with laundry rooms. The device not only includes means for hanging the garments inconspicuously but also means for catching and retaining the water which drips from the hung garments. Furthermore, the device is of such a nature that when it is not in use, it can be folded into a compact unit for storage or for ease in carrying it, such as in the trunk of a car.

Inthe accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that specific details may be varied without departing from the basic concept of the invention.

In these drawings:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a detail in enlarged, vertical section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 4 showing one of the extended hooks used for suspending the device along with its mounting.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the device in folded, nested condition.

FIGURE 5 is a detail in enlarged plan, partly broken away, showing the suspending hooks in their inoperative positions.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 4 through the folded device.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing my device supported by a collapsible supporting rack.

FIGURE 8 is a detail of the rack taken along line 88 of FIGURE 7.

With reference to the drawings, the device of this invention comprises mainly a supporting top member 10, a bottom drip-receiving tray 11 and flexible suspending -means 12 for suspending the tray 11 from the top member 10. The members and 11 are preferably formed of substantially rigid plastic and the suspending means 12 is preferably in the form of opposed front and rear panels 13 of nylon mesh or cloth. As will be apparent later, these panels not only serve as suspending means but also have a wick-effect when wet garments are suspended from the upper member 10.

The top member 10 is of inverted rectangular tray form having a flat top wall 15 and a depending continuous marginal ilange 16. The top wall is provided with a centrally disposed fiat recessed area 17. Disposed across this area slightly off-center transversely is a metal bar 18 (FIGURES 3 and 5) which may be suitably secured to the plastic top. This bar is provided with a pair of spaced inwardly opening pockets or -slots 19.

Adjacent the metal bar 18, the top wall 15 carries a pair of suspending hooks 20. Each hook has an outer main hook portion 21 and an inner hook 22 which passes through an eye 23. This eye 23 is on the upper end of a connecting member which is rotatably mounted in the recessed portion 17 of the top wall by means including a washer 25 and an associated spherical stop enlargement 27 on the lower end of the eye member. The extremity of the inner hook portion 22 is provided with a laterally extending spring finger 26 which is adaptedto cooperate with the associated slot 19. It will be apparent that any desired number of hooks 20 may be provided and a corresponding number of associated slots 19 will be provided. In inoperative position, the hooks are swung downwardly flat against the recessed surface 17 as indicated in FIG- URE 5. To move them to operative position, they are swung upwardly, by rotating the hooks 22 in the eyes 23, and then are rotated, by rotating the eyes 23, to swing the lingers 26 into the slots 19 (FIGURE 3). The hook portions 21 can then be hooked over a closet rod or other suitable support S as indicated in FIGURE l. Friction between -the ngers 26 and the top sides of the slots 19 will keep the eyes 23 and consequently the hooks 20 from rotating.

The lower tray member 11 is made watertight and includes the flat bottom 30 (FIGURES 2 and 6) with an upstanding continuous marginal flange 31. This ii'ange 31` is offset outwardly at its upper extremity to provide a shoulder 32. The flange is also preferably provided. with a reinforcing lip 33 at its upper edge. With this arrangement, the plain depending ilange 16 on the top member 10 can, when the members 10 and 11y are brought into cooperative relationship, slip into or telescope within -the upstanding flange 31 until its lower edge engages the shoulder 32.

As previously indicated, the top member 1li is connected to the bottom tray member 11 by the flexible panels 13. These woven or mesh nylon panels are connected to rods 35 at their upper and lower edges. These rods interit with brackets 36 at their 4outer ends on the inner surfaces of the flanges 16 and 31 of the respective members 10 and 11. These brackets may be formed as an integral part of the member 10 or 11 or may be formed separately and suitably attached thereto.

Directly below the hooks 20, a crimped rod 40 is provided extending forwardly and rearwardly an-d disposed upwardly within the flange 16 of the top member. The ends yof this rod are anchored in brackets 41 which, like the brackets 36, may be integral with or attached to the flange. The crimped rod provides indentations 42 for receiving the hooks of garment carrying hangers H as indicated in FIGURE 2.

When the device is to be stored or transported, the top member 10 is moved into nesting relationship with the bottom tray 11, as indicated in FIG-URE 6, with the flexible panels 13 folded therewithin. However, the hooks 2li will be ilat against the Irecessed surface as in FIGURE 5. This will provide a neat, compact and lightweight package.

To use the device, the hooks 20 are extended as in FIGURE 6 and the top member is .lifted as in FIGURES 1 and 2. It is then hung from the support .S and the tray 11 will be suspended by means of the extended panels 13. The sides o-f the devi-ce will be open and garments G on .hangers H can be positioned within the device being hung from the rod 40. Drying air will circulate through the sides of the device and through t-he panels 13. If the panels contact garments, they will serve as wicks for conducting the moisture therefrom. The tray 11 will receive and retain drips.

Thus, the device wil-l provide Ia means for suspending drip-dry articles which will be pleasing in appearance and will function eifec-tive-ly to retain the water which drips from the garments. Also, the device can be ar-ranged in the -form of a compact package for storage or transportation.

Where a support like a closet rod is not available, a collapsible supporting rack 56 of the type shown in FIG- URI- "l 7 may be provided. This rack comprises the inverted Us|haped leg members 51 pivoted together `at 51a. Spacer rods 52 are provided at the upper ends of the members 51 to hold their side legs in X-relationship. These rods 52 are provided with depending spring clips 53 which snap over the transverse upper ends S4 of the members 51. A similar rod 55 is provided over the rods 52 and rests thereon bein-g clamped thereto by spring clips '6. This rod S5 serves as a support `from which the hanger `and dryer can be suspended by means of the hooks 20. With this arrangement, the rack provides a suitable support when set-up lbut can be knocked down for storage.

It will be apparent that this invention provides a garment hanger and dryer having many advantages. Some of these advantages have been discussed above and others will be apparent.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained rand have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is t-o be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than `as specifically illustrated and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A garment hanging and drying device comprising a top member adapted to be supported by Ia suitable support, Ia bottom tray member for receiving the drip `from a garment supported from said top member, and exible means for suspending the tray member from said top member, said top and bottom members having lianges which extend toward each other and which telescope with each other when the members lare brought into cooperativerelationship, said top member being provided with a suspending hook pivoted t-hereto for movement between a position in diat contact with the top and an extendedposition projecting upwardly therefrom, said hook being pivotally connected to the top by a rotatable eye member, said hook having a finger projecting through the eye, and a socket on the top adjacent the eye into and out of which said linger may be swung.

2. A garment hanging and drying device comprising -a top member of inverted rectangular tray form having a lat top wall 4and a depending continuous marginal liange with oppositely disposed side portions and oppositely disposed end portions, suspending means carried on the exterior of the top member for suspending it from a suitable support, garment-suspending means carried on the interior of the top member for suspending a garment therefrom which is to drip-dry, a bottom tray member of watertight construction for receiving the drip from a garment suspended from said top member, said tray member being of rectangular form having a dat bottom wa-ll and an upright continuous marginal flange, said ange Ihaving oppositely -disposed side portions and oppositely `disposed end portions, exible means for suspending the bottom tray member yfrom the top member with the respective depending side and end portions of the flange of the top member in substantially the same verical planes as the corresponding upstanding side and end portions of the flange of said bottom tray member but said iianges being disposed to telescope with each other as the opposing anges are brought together, said flexible means comprising front and rear panels of mesh material, each of which has upper and lower ends which are secured withthe respective depending side portions and upstanding side portions of the -opposed -iianges of the top member and bottom tray member and are substantially coexte-nsive ltherewith, said front and rear panels providing for circulation of drying 'air therethrough as well as for suspending the bottom tray member from the top member and having opposed vertical side edges, the spaces formed Aat the ends of the panels between said side edges of opposed panels being clear to permit insertion and removal of garments between the panels 'and additional circulation of air for driying as well as tipping the tray toward einher of its ends to drain collected water therefrom, said side panels being foldable between the top member and bott-om tray mem-ber as such members are moved vertically together and the opposed anges thereof are brought into telescopic relationship.

3. A garment hainging ,and drying device comprising a top member of inverted tray form having a top wall and a depending continuous marginal filange, suspending means on the exterior of the top member for suspending it from a suitable support, garment suspending means on t-he interior of the top member for suspending a garment therefrom which is to drip-dry, a bottom tray member of watertight construction for receiving the drip from a garment suspended from said top member and having an upright continuous marginal flange, and flexible means for suspending the bottom tray member from the to-p member with the llanges of said members directed toward each other and in substantially the same vertical plane but said anges being disposed to telescope as they yare brought together, said -llexible means having upper and lower ends secured to the respective top and bottom members Within the -ilanges thereof and serving to provide for circulation of drying air between said members as Well as for suspending the bottom tray member from the top member, said ilexible means being `foldable between the top member and bottom tray member as such members are moved vertically together and the opposed anges thereof are brought into telescopic relationship.

4. A garment hanging and drying device comprising a top supporting member, suspending means on the exterior of the top member for suspending it from .a suitable support, said top member being adapted to have a garment supported therefrom which is to -drip-dry, ra bottom tray member of watertight construction for receiving the drip from a garment supported from said top member and exible means for suspending the bottom tray member from the top member in substantially the same vertical plane, said flexible means having upper 'and lower ends secured to the respective top and bottom members and arranged to provide for circulation of drying air between said members as well as for suspending the bottom tray member from the top member, said exible means bei-ng foldable between the top member and bottom tray member as such members are moved vertically together into cooperative relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,877 4/1933 Lichtig 206-7 2,156,784 5/1939 Jensen 34-151 X 3,190,012 6/1965 Gray 34-151 FOREIGN PATENTS l 1/ 1953 Great Britain. 5/ 1963 Great Britain. 

1. A GARMENT HANGING AND DRYING DEVICE COMPRISING A TOP MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED BY A SUITABLE SUPPORT, A BOTTOM TRAY MEMBER FOR RECEIVING THE DRIP FROM A GARMENT SUPPORTED FROM SAID TOP MEMBER, AND FLEXIBLE MEANS FOR SUSPENDING THE TRAY MEMBER FROM SAID TOP MEMBER, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS HAVING FLANGES WHICH EXTENDED TOWARD EACH OTHER AND WHICH TELESCOPE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE MEMBERS ARE BROUGHT INTO COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP, SAID TOP MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A SUSPENDING HOOK PIVOTED THERETO FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A POSITION IN FLAT CONTACT WITH THE TOP AND AN EXTENDED POSITION PROJECTING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID HOOK BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP BY A ROTATABLE EYE MEMBER, SAID HOOK HAVING A FINGER PROJECTING THROUGH THE EYE, AND A SOCKET ON THE TOP ADJACENT THE EYE INTO AND OUT OF WHICH SAID FINGER MAY BE SWUNG. 